30 Australian Tree Statistics 2022

Australia is home to many grasslands, rainforests, savannahs and diverse woodlands. Trees and canopies cover a significant portion of the country.

Such greeneries are crucial in keeping the suburbs livable. They are vital in our surroundings. Besides, trees can be a flood-proofing tool.

To learn more about trees and their role in our environment, let us go through some of the top tree statistics in Australia.

Australian Forest Areas

1. Australia is globally recognised as the country with the seventh-largest forest area, covering 3% of the world’s total forest area.
2. 39% or 51.8 million hectares of Australia’s forest is within the vicinity of Queensland and is the country’s largest area of forest.
3. Australia’s Northern Territory covers 23.7 million hectares of forest, while Western Australia and New South Wales cover 21.0 million hectares and 20.4 million hectares.
4. Eucalyptus forests cover 77% of Australia’s national forest land, while acacia forests make up 8 %. The melaleuca and rainforest form 5% and 3% of the total.
5. Forests are typically preserved and confined to regions where the annual average rainfall exceeds 500 millimetres. 
6. Of the 132 million hectares of native forest, 47.2 million hectares are on leasehold land, and 41.0 million hectares are on land under a private freehold title.
7. 88.2 million hectares or 67% of the country’s native forest is under some type of private and restricted management.
8. Consequently, 21.7 million hectares (17%) of Australia’s native forests are within formal nature conservation reserves, while 9.8 million hectares (7.4%) are in multiple-use public native forests.
9. Australia’s 134 million hectares of forest is equivalent to 17% of the country’s land area.
10. One hundred thirty-two million hectares or 98% of Australia’s total forest area, are considered ‘Native forests’. ‘Commercial plantations’ cover 1.95 million hectares, while the 0.47 million hectares are ‘Other forests’.

Native Trees and Canopies

11. The country has a staggering 24,000 species of native plants and trees. Acacia, grevillea, emu bushes, and gum trees (eucalyptus) are among the most common Australian trees found in native forests.
12. The King’s Holly from Tasmania is Australia’s oldest-known tree. It has been around for about 43,000 years.
13. The tallest living tree in the register is a 99.8-metre gum known as the Centurion in the Arve Valley, Tasmania. It was identified and measured in 2008.
14. A study from the University of Technology Sydney showed that the greenest capital city of Australia is Hobart, with tree canopies covering about 59% of the Tasmanian capital.
15. Tree canopies cover 49% of Brisbane and 28% of Darwin. They make up the top three greenest cities in Australia, with Hobart as the number one.
16. Sydney and Melbourne are in the bottom two ranks of the greenest cities, at 15% and 13%, respectively.

Deforestation & Tree Cover Loss

17. Approximately 500,000 hectares of native woodlands and forests are destroyed across Australia every year.
18. Due to excessive tree-clearing, an estimate of 750 million native animals in Australia will die by 2030.
19. There are about 24 billion standard trees in Australia. These trees have a trunk diameter of 30 centimetres and stand approximately 15 metres tall.
20. Australia has lost 62 hectares of humid primary forest from 2002 to 2021. In the same period, the country’s total humid forest area reduced by 0.49%.
21. 2.9 % of tree cover loss in Australia occurred in areas where the dominant drivers of loss spawned deforestation.
22. The top 2 regions, namely New South Wales and Western Australia, were responsible for 59% of all tree cover loss from 2001 to 2021.
23. New South Wales recorded the most tree cover loss at 2.88Mha, significantly higher than the average of 970 kha.
24. Australia is currently facing a land clearing and deforestation crisis, with an MCG-sized area of woodlands and forests bulldozed every 86 seconds.
25. About 50% of the country’s forests and bushlands from the pre-European arrival have been permanently destroyed and cleared for other land use. Most of these areas are now regrowing vegetation, classifying them into degraded forests and bushlands.

26. As of today, only 50% of Australia’s historical forests and bushlands remain intact.

27. Since 1750, the country has lost 27% of the total rainforest, 28% of mallee forest, 19% of open forest, and 11% of the woodland forest.
28. In recent years, Australia’s aggressive level of land clearing has ranked the fastest among the developed countries.

Tree Removal

29. Tree felling and related activities account for serious injuries and fatalities of workers each year. Australian data shows that about 65% of casualties occur during tree felling, 20% during lopping/trimming, and 7% during clearing/cutting trees.
30. Most tree removals occur around major development sites rather than in undeveloped areas. Trees can be removed or bulldozed to provide land access, scaffolding, and other development purposes.

Key Takeaways

Trees are vital and invaluable. However, the tree statistics show that they often go through destructive incidents of abuse and irresponsible handling for short-term gains.

Care for the trees in your property and your neighbourhood by partnering with a professional tree arborist company. A well-rounded team like Trees Down Under ensures that your trees are well-maintained and healthy.

Let us take our part and be responsible for preserving the environment. Our little help can go a long way. Reach out to Trees Down Under any time!

Australian Bushfire Statistics 2022

Bushfire season threatens the entirety of Australia. It is an overly destructive phenomenon that can be difficult to contain once the fire has begun.

Although it’s devastating, bushfires are intrinsic parts of the country’s environment. Historical and recent fires shaped and helped the natural ecosystems evolve.

While naturally occurring bushfires are inevitable, studies show that mitigating their potential impacts can lessen the consequences and casualties.

Let us look further into this matter and identify some important Australian bushfire statistics.

Bushfire Seasons Throughout the Year

While bushfires can occur at any time of the year, the peak bushfire period in Australia is during the dry season. However, it can vary across the country depending on the seasonal weather patterns.

In southern Australia, bushfire season peaks during autumn and summer or between December to May. 

For northern Australia, bushfires peak in winter and spring or during the dry season between May and October. Lastly, the central region’s bushfire season runs from August to March.

The most fire-prone areas worldwide are southern New South Wales, Victoria, and Southeastern Australia. Weather conditions significantly influence the intensity, speed, size and predictability of bushfires and the extent of the danger they can bring to the community.

Most Catastrophic Bushfires in Australia

Major Australian bushfires occurred between 1967 and 2013, resulting in over 8000 injuries and 433 deaths. The fatality was about 50 per cent of all deaths from significant Australian natural disasters during that period.

Over 19 million hectares burned during one of Australia’s most catastrophic “Black Summer” bushfire peak seasons from 2019 to 2020. The fire destroyed many forests and bushlands, killing more than 1.25 billion animals.

New South Wales was the most affected region, with many burned areas being forest and conservation land.

According to some sources, at least 80% of the Blue Mountains and 53% of the Gondwana world heritage spots were destroyed and burned. As a result, billions of animals lost their habitats and lives.

Moreover, many Australians were affected by the bushfires, and at least 30 people died during such a catastrophe. 

Households and commercial buildings were partially damaged or destroyed, pushing early insurance claims to a whopping value of 1.9 billion Australian dollars in February 2020.

Bushfire in the country has worsened over the years with increasing drought areas pressure on forest recovery and resilience. A confirmed climate change-driven trend has been a tool in igniting more intense bushfires.

Forest experts and managers reevaluate traditional tree recovery approaches with probable threats of future wildfires like the 2019-20 “Black Summer”. Some even wonder if restoring forests is viable.

Mitigating Bushfires in Australia

Research professionals actively assess various interventions and approaches to produce trees and plants with fire-resilient trees. However, such initiatives have a long way to go.

Today, the local government has tried various ways to prevent bushfires and minimise the dangers. The bushfire management and national environment law aim to offer guidance during emergency wildfires.

In the case of bushfires, suppression and containment activities are a must to protect life and property. Firefighting is an emergency action taken to stop or suppress bushfires.

During the 2019-20 bushfire season, thousands of firefighters battled the blazes to mitigate such devastating incidents. Most have put off the fires in the worst-hit areas of Victoria and New South Wales (NSW).

On the other hand, preventive actions are essential in reducing the severity of bushfires before they even happen. Fire prevention includes tree management activities, tree trimming and removal.

If you have trees on your property or your home is close to vegetation, undertake tree management activities to keep your place safe from bushfires. When things get too tough, you can always get help from a professional tree arborist.  

Conclusion

Bushfires are devastating incidents that can result in loss of life, property damage, environmental destruction and economic losses.

Knowing some compelling bushfire statistics helps us understand which approach to take in order to lessen the potential impacts of fires.

Don’t let your home or commercial property suffer from destructive bushfires. Make sure you do your part in preventing bushfires.

If you need professional assistance, you can get in touch with Trees Down Under at any time of day. We can help you deal with all tree-related concerns!

Tree Removal Inspections: 5 Things You Need To Know

Anyone who has a tree in their yard understands its threat to their household and neighbours and passersby. Removing an old tree is the most sensible solution because there are significant risks of falling branches that could damage utility lines and pose a safety hazard.

However, the tree removal process is a hazardous project in and of itself. Taking down a massive tree safely and efficiently requires access to specialised equipment and highly trained arborists.

A professional team on top of your tree removal process will thoroughly inspect the tree and its immediate vicinity to determine the safest way to get rid of it. Before you head out and seek any arborist, here are five things you need to know about tree removal inspections.

Tree Removal Must Be Your Final Option

Before thinking about having a professional cut down your tree, understand that tree maintenance can improve your tree’s health and add value to your property.

Trees also support the local wildlife and minimise safety risks as long as they are well-maintained.

Calling a contractor with a chainsaw will most certainly recommend tree removal right off the bat. You need a certified tree arborist who knows what’s best for your tree, depending on its health and structure.

In other words, arborists will recommend available alternatives to preserve your tree, which are typically more affordable than tree removal. They will inspect the tree’s health and treat underlying diseases that would restore its health without cutting it down.

Removal Contractors vs. Arborists

A tree removal’s estimated cost will depend on several factors, such as equipment and labour. But if the process isn’t executed safely and efficiently, you might pay extra if the tree falls down on the wrong spot, damages your or your neighbours’ property, or harms anyone nearby.

There’s more than one way to cut down trees, and risks or costs vary significantly. Specialist arborists have extensive knowledge and experience removing old trees without damaging your property or nearby trees.

Remember that tree removal can be complicated or easy, depending on the tree type or location. If a contractor cuts the tree trunk right at the base, expect a fast and cheap project with drastically higher risks.

As the country faces consecutive climate disasters and storms, we expect the demand for tree removal and qualified arborists to rise. But that said, be careful of contractors advertising door to door to offer cheap tree removal, as certified specialists and trained arborists don’t practice this.

We highly recommend calling proven arborists who strictly abide under safety standards to help you protect your property and assets throughout the tree removal project.

Tree Removal Regulations

An enormous green old tree typically equates to longer red tape. While you technically own the trees rooted in your property, the decision to have them removed doesn’t always fall under your hands.

Some states and cities can legally intervene and regulate tree removal projects. That means homeowners need to acquire inspection certifications and permits before taking down their trees.

Depending on your suburb, you may need to seek approval from your homeowners’ association. A certified and time-tested arborist should assist you with all the permits and schedule a convenient hour for your tree removal project.

Stump Removal and Lumber Cutting

Your yard should be clean of any eyesore after a tree removal project. That’s why you should partner with an arborist who would get rid of the stump and any unwanted debris from your yard.

In terms of the tree lumber, your arborist should give you options on whether to get rid of it with a chipper or cut it down to firewood. Feel free to call us at 0475 463 597 to discover your tree removal options and a free quote.

Hazard on Nearby Vegetation & Property

When a tree or its limb falls, it can damage the owner’s yard and the neighbour’s property. If you think your old tree poses a risk to a nearby tree, yard, or property, we recommend seeking professional help to file a request for tree removal and a certified letter.

Having a letter will act as a financial safety net if the project ultimately damages your property. You can use it to proceed with your insurance claims.

In a nutshell, the tree removal process should be straightforward and affordable if you have a trusted partner on your back. If you have an old and barren tree in your yard, Trees Down Under is here to respond 24/7.

Call our team on 0475 463 597, and discuss your tree removal request. We’ll respond with a free estimate. We are the perfect solution to all your budget-friendly garden and landscaping needs.